Sink Device with Sink Surface Cleaning Function

ABSTRACT

A sink device with a sink surface cleaning function which comprises: a sink including a sink surface and a drainage hole, which is disposed on the sink surface and is communicated with a drain pipe. The upper edge of the sink surface is annularly provided with a plurality of water holes, which are connected to a water supplying means. Thus the sink surface of the sink device in the present invention is easy to maintain cleanliness, and can save the time and effort to brush the sink, providing better sanitary environment.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to Taiwanese Patent Application No. 103215872, filed Sep. 5, 2014, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to sanitary equipment, and more particularly to a sink device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Bathroom is a place where we wash our body, in which the sink is the most frequently used sanitary equipment for teeth brushing, face washing and hand cleaning, etc. With the day by day use, however, the sink is contaminated by all kinds of stains such as limescale, soap scum, toothpaste. Moreover, after the long-term contamination of these stains, it would have unpleasant smell, not only making us feel uncomfortable while using the sink, but also reducing the environmental quality of our life.

Generally, except for the place beneath the faucet, all the other part on the sink surface are usually the place where the stains deposit where there needs extra time and effort to brush the stains off. In consideration of the matter that a sink is mostly made of the ceramic materials, and the sink surface is glazed for protection, therefore, when the sink surface is being brushed for removing the stains, the glaze might fall off the sink surface, and cracks would appear easily on the surface of ceramics without the protection of glaze, causing danger when using the sink and shortening the life expectancy of the sink.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a sink device with a sink surface cleaning function in order to solve the problem of the sink in prior art.

The technical means used by the present invention to overcome the drawbacks in prior art is to provide a sink device with a sink surface cleaning function, comprising:

a sink including a sink surface and a drainage hole which is disposed on the sink surface and communicated with a drain pipe;

wherein an upper edge of the sink surface is annularly provided with a plurality of water holes which are connected to a water supplying means.

In one embodiment of the present invention, it further comprises:

a filtering means, a heating means and a pressurizing means,

wherein the filtering means is communicated with the water supplying means, the heating means is thermally connected with the filtering means, and the pressurizing means is communicated between the heating means and the water holes.

In one embodiment of the present invention, it further comprises:

a status-detecting means, which is disposed in the drain pipe and electrically connected with the water supplying means,

wherein the status-detecting means includes a valve and a flow detector electrically connected with the valve, in which the status-detecting means generates usage status information according to an on-off state of the valve and a flow detecting status of the flow detector to enable the water supplying means to be in the state of turning on or turning off.

In one embodiment of the present invention, it provides a sink device, wherein the upper edge of the sink surface is annularly provided with a groove, and the annular groove is inserted with a communicating pipe whose one end is connected to the water supplying means, and whose pipe wall is provided with the plurality of water holes.

In one embodiment of the present invention, it provides a sink device, wherein the upper edge of the sink surface is annularly provided with a groove, the water holes are disposed on a wall of the annular groove, and a recess is disposed on the bottom of the annular groove.

The technical method of the present invention is: the water supplying means supplies the water to a plurality of annularly arranged water holes on the upper edge of the sink surface, and by way of the impact force of the water current for scouring the sink surface, the stains are hard to deposit on the surface of the sink. Thus the sink device of the present invention has an ability of self-cleaning, and so it is easy to maintain cleanliness, and can save the time and effort to brush the sink, providing better sanitary environment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a sink device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view illustrating a sink device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a sink device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view illustrating a sink device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a top view illustrating a sink device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a sink device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a side view illustrating a sink device according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a side view illustrating a sink device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a side view illustrating a sink device according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Please refer to FIGS. 1-3. In the first embodiment, the present invention provides a sink device 100 which comprises: a sink 1 including a sink surface 11 and a drainage hole 12, which is disposed on the sink surface 11 and is communicated with a drain pipe 13. The upper edge of the sink surface 11 of the sink 1 is annularly provided with a plurality of water holes 14, which are connected to a water supplying means S. The sink device 100 includes a faucet means 2, which is disposed on the sink 1 and comprises a faucet body 21. The faucet body 21 is provided with a washing outlet 22. In the present embodiment, the washing outlet 22 of the faucet body 21 is communicated with the water supplying means S, i.e., the water source of the faucet body 21 and the plurality of water holes 14 come from the water supplying means S. In other embodiments, the washing outlet 22 of the faucet body 21 can communicate with other water supplying means, so the water source of the faucet body 21 and the plurality of water holes 14 can be independent.

In the present embodiment, a communicating pipe 15 is formed around and inside the sink body of the sink 1, one end of which is connected to the water supplying means S, and the pipe wall of the communicating pipe 15 is communicated with the plurality of water holes 14. By way of this, the water coming from the water supplying means S could flow through the communicating pipe 15 and come out from the plurality of water holes 14. But the present invention is not limited to this. The plurality of water holes 14 could connect to the water supplying means S directly, and do not have to flow through the communicating pipe 15. Since the plurality of water holes 14 are disposed on the upper edge of the sink surface 11, the water flow which comes out from the plurality of water holes 14 have bigger gravitational potential energy and thus possesses greater impact force. Thus, the water current is easy to flow through the entire sink surface 11 and bring the stains on the sink surface 11 into the drain pipe 13. Preferably, the distance between each water hole 14 can be set according to the radian measure of the sink surface 11 and the size of the hole diameter of the plurality of water holes 14, and then the plurality of water holes 14 are annularly disposed on the upper edge of the sink surface 11. By this way, the water current can flow through the sink surface 11 evenly and make the sanitary function better.

By the structure above, the water coming form the water supplying means S flows out of a plurality of annularly arranged water holes 14 on the upper edge of the sink surface 11 of the sink 1, so the impact force of the water current can scour the sink surface 11 of the sink 1 and make the stains hard to deposit on the sink surface 11. Therefore, the sink device 100 of the present invention has the ability of self-cleaning, and thus is easy to maintain cleanliness, saving the time and effort brushing the sink device 100, providing better sanitary environment.

Please refer to FIG. 3. The sink device 100 of the first embodiment further comprises a filtering means 4, a heating means 5 and a pressurizing means 6, wherein the filtering means 4 is communicated with the water supplying means S, the heating means 5 is thermally connected with the filtering means 4, and the pressurizing means 6 is communicated between the heating means 5 and the plurality of water holes 14. The filtering means 4 is a mechanism with filtering function. The heating means 5 is a mechanism which supplies thermal energy. The pressurizing means 6 is a pressure pump or a motor. The water coming from the water supplying means S will firstly be filtered by the filtering means 4 to remove the impurities, so the water used to clean the sink surface 11 will not form limescale on the sink surface 11 easily. The filtered water is then heated by the heating means 5 so as to make water-soluble stains on the sink surface 11 dissolved in water more easily. Then the water current is pressurized by the pressurizing means 6 to flow out from the plurality of water holes 14, by which the impact force of the water current for scouring the sink surface 11 is enhanced. By the structure above, the cleaning function of the sink surface 11 of the sink device 100 can be further enhanced. But the filtering means 4, the heating means 5, and the pressurizing means 6 are not necessarily needed to be disposed simultaneously. They can be provided individually based on demands and cost considerations. The sink device 100 of the first embodiment further comprises a detergent storage means 7, which communicates with a disposed detergent outlet. The detergent storage means 7 is used to store and transport detergents. In the present embodiment, the detergent storage means 7 is communicated with the plurality of water holes 14, making the plurality of water holes 14 the detergents outlets. Each of the water holes 14 includes a detergent delivery end and a clear water delivery end, wherein the clear water delivery end is disposed above the detergent delivery end, and the detergent and clear water are delivered in sequence. While water flows out from the clear water delivery end, the detergent delivery end is also cleaned, by which the detergent together with the water flown out of the water supplying means S come out from the plurality of water holes 14 and flow through the sink surface 11. Therefore, the self-cleaning effect of the sink surface 11 is enhanced.

Please refer to FIGS. 4-6. In the second embodiment, the present invention provides a sink device 100 a similar to the sink device 100 of the first embodiment, and their differences will be described hereinafter. First of all, as depicted in FIG. 5, the faucet body 21 of the sink device 100 a of the second embodiment further includes a detergent outlet 23 and a touch control panel 24. The detergent outlet 23 and the washing outlet 22 of the faucet body 21 are deposed on the same side. The detergent outlet 23 is directly connected with the said detergent storage means 7. Under the situation where the plurality of water holes 14 is providing water, the detergent is sprinkled on the sink surface 11 via the detergent outlet 23. Preferably, the detergent outlets 23 is disposed in the front, back, left and right side of the washing outlet 22 separately, by which the detergent can be sprinkled evenly on the sink surface 11. Preferably, a pressurizing means can be disposed between the detergent outlet 23 and the detergent storage means 7 to enlarge the sprinkle range of the detergent pressurized and spurted on the sink surface 11. The touch control panel 24 is disposed on the faucet body 21 and is connected to the water supplying means S, by which the users can operate the water supplying means S by controlling the touch control panel 24. For example, open the water supplying means S and let water come out from the plurality of water holes 14, to perform the cleaning activity with respect to the sink surface 11.

The sink device 100 a of the second embodiment further comprises a status-detecting means 8, which is disposed in the drain pipe 13 and is electrically connected with the water supplying means S. The status-detecting means 8 includes a valve 81 and a flow detector 82 connected electrically with the valve 81, in which the status-detecting means 8 generates usage status information according to an on-off state of the valve 81 and a flow detecting status of the flow detector 82, enabling the water supplying means S to be in the state of turning on or turning off. Namely, the status-detecting means 8 is for detecting the present usage status of the sink device 100 a. For example, when someone is using the sink device 100 a to wash face, the valve 81 is closed to retain water, and then the valve 81 is opened when the face washing done. At this moment, the water current would flow by the flow detector 82, which is disposed inside the drain pipe 13. When the water runs out, the status-detecting means 8 would confirm that the user is done with the face washing movement based on the on-off state of the valve 81 and the flow detecting status of the flow detector 82, and then open the water supplying means S to perform the stain cleaning operation with respect to the sink surface 11.

The sink device 100 a of the second embodiment further comprises a proximity sensor 9, which is disposed in sink 1. The proximity sensor 9 includes a proximity sensing area, which generates a proximity sensing information according to a corresponding measured body. By the disposition of the status-detecting means 8 and the proximity sensor 9, the sink device 100 a can perform the cleaning activity automatically according to the situations, making the utilizing of the device more convenient.

The sink device 100 a of the second embodiment further comprises a warning means 16 which connects to the proximity sensor 9 which is disposed in sink 1 and/or the status-detecting means 8, which is disposed inside the drain pipe 13. The warning means 16 generates a corresponding warning information based on the proximity sensing information of the proximity sensor 9 and/or the usage status information of the status-detecting means 8. When the sink device 100 a is performing the automatically cleaning activity of the sink surface 11, and if someone comes near the sink 1 or opens the faucet means 2, then the warning means 16 would emit sounds to warn the user that the cleaning activity is now going on. Moreover, the sink device 100 a can further include a timing means, which is not depicted in any figure, and is connected to the status-detecting means 8 and the water supplying means S. A default time value is stored therein, the timing means correspondingly opens or closes the water supplying means S based on the default time value and the usage status information. By this way, if the timing means has not yet received the usage status information when the default time value has passed, it means the sink device 100 a is not used and the cleaning activity of the sink surface 11 is not yet being executed, then in this moment, the water supplying means S will be activated and the cleaning activity of the sink surface will be executed to flush the dust on the sink surface 11 and to further maintain the cleanliness of the sink device 100 a.

Please refer to FIG. 7. In the third embodiment, the present invention provides a sink device 100 b similar to the sink device 100 of the first embodiment, and their difference lies in: an annular groove 111 b which is annularly provided on the upper edge of the sink surface 11 of the sink 1. The annular groove 111 b is inserted with a communicating pipe 15 whose one end is connected to the water supplying means S and whose pipe wall is provided with the plurality of water holes 14. By this way, the third embodiment of the present invention not only has the effect of the sink device 100 of the first embodiment, but also is equipped with the convenience of easy installation and disassembles.

Please refer to FIG. 8. In the fourth embodiment, the present invention provides a sink device 100 c similar to the sink device 100 of the first embodiment, and their difference lies in: an annular groove 111 c which is annularly provided on the upper edge of the sink surface 11 of the sink 1. The water holes 14 are disposed on a wall of the annular groove 111 c, and a recess 1111 is disposed on the bottom of the annular groove 111 c to let clear water or/and detergent clean up the sink surface 11 with overflows. By this way, the fourth embodiment of the present invention not only has the effect of the sink device 100 of the first embodiment, but also has the effect of cleaning the sink surface completely.

Please refer to FIG. 9. In the fifth embodiment, the present invention provides a sink device 100 d similar to the sink device 100 of the first embodiment, and their difference lies in: an extending flange 112 which is annularly provided on the upper edge of the sink surface 11 of the sink 1. The extending flange 112 is integrally formed on the sink surface 11, for example, integrally formed by ceramic sintering. The water holes 14 are disposed on the bottom of the extending flange 112. By this way, the fifth embodiment of the present invention not only has the effect of the sink device 100 of the first embodiment, but also has the effect of firm and durable as well as pleasant appearance.

The above description should be considered as only the discussion of the preferred embodiments of the present invention. However, a person with ordinary skill in the art may make various modifications to the present invention. Those modifications should still fall within the spirit and scope defined by the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A sink device with a sink surface cleaning function, comprising: a sink including a sink surface and a drainage hole the drainage hole being disposed on the sink surface and communicated with a drain pipe, wherein an upper edge of the sink surface is annularly provided with a plurality of water holes which are connected to a water supplying means.
 2. The sink device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a filtering means, a heating means and a pressurizing means, wherein the filtering means is communicated with the water supplying means, the heating means is thermally connected with the filtering means, and the pressurizing means is communicated between the heating means and the water holes.
 3. The sink device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a status-detecting means which is disposed in the drain pipe and electrically connected with the water supplying means, wherein the status-detecting means includes a valve and a flow detector electrically connected with the valve, in which the status-detecting means generates usage status information according to an on-off state of the valve and a flow detecting status of the flow detector to enable the water supplying means to be in the state of turning on or turning off.
 4. The sink device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upper edge of the sink surface is annularly provided with a groove, and the annular groove is inserted with a communicating pipe whose one end is connected to the water supplying means and whose pipe wall is provided with the plurality of water holes.
 5. The sink device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upper edge of the sink surface is annularly provided with a groove, the water holes are disposed on a wall of the annular groove, and a recess is disposed on the bottom of the annular groove. 